The U.S. Postal Service has proposed new postage rates to be implemented on Sunday, January 26, 2020, subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Listed below are the highlights of the proposed 2020 USPS rate increase for customers buying postage online for DOMESTIC letters and packages:

First Class Mail Letters - 2020 Rates

INCREASE PER LETTER - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Mailpiece Weight	2020	2019	Increase
Letters - 1 oz.	$0.55	$0.55	$0.00
Letters - Additional Ounces	$0.15	$0.15	$0.00
Metered Mail Letters (Stamps.com Rate) - 1 oz.	$0.50	$0.50	$0.00
Metered Mail Letters (Stamps.com Rate) - Additional Ounces	$0.15	$0.15	$0.00
Flat/Large Envelope - 1 oz.	$1.00	$1.00	$0.00
Flat/Large Envelope - Additional Ounces	$0.20	$0.15	$0.05
Postcards	$0.35	$0.35	$0.00
International Letters - 1 oz. (County Groups 1-9)	$1.15	$1.15	$0.00
International Postcard (County Groups 1-9)	$1.15	$1.15	$0.00

The rate for a First Class Mail Letter (1 oz.) for postage purchased at the Post Office is NOT INCREASING in 2020, remaining at $0.55. If you print postage online (via Stamps.com), the Metered Mail rate will also NOT BE INCREASING, with rates remaining at $0.50 in 2020, a 5 cent discount off the Post Office price. Each additional ounce will cost $0.15 (no change from 2019).

The starting rate for a First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelope is NOT INCREASING in 2020 with the price remaining at $1.00 (1 oz.). Each additional ounce will cost $0.20 (a 5 cent increase from 2019). Postcards will remain at $0.35 in 2020.

Priority Mail Express - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Weight (lbs.)	Zones 1/2	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8	Zone 9
0.5	$0.07	$0.57	$0.56	$0.79	$0.87	$0.95	$1.37	$2.28
1	$0.26	$1.43	$-1.21	$-0.91	$0.36	$0.28	$1.53	$2.50
2	$0.47	$1.63	$-0.40	$0.94	$2.51	$2.48	$3.44	$5.18
3	$0.67	$2.30	$-0.96	$0.42	$2.18	$2.04	$3.10	$4.75
4	$0.88	$2.35	$0.08	$-0.16	$2.15	$1.84	$2.79	$4.40
5	$0.09	$0.76	$0.99	$1.49	$1.64	$1.79	$2.56	$4.18

Overall, prices for Priority Mail Express will increase by 2.2%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $38.05 in 2020 compared to $36.52 currently.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Mailpiece	2020	2019	Increase
Flat Rate Envelope	$22.75	$22.68	$0.07
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	$22.95	$22.80	$0.15
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	$23.25	$23.18	$0.07

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes will also see a rate increase in 2020. The increases vary depending on the type of envelope, ranging from $0.07 to $0.15 per envelope.

Priority Mail - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Weight (lbs.)	Zones 1 & 2	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8	Zone 9
1	$0.07	$0.07	$0.07	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$1.49
2	$0.22	$0.23	$0.24	$0.26	$0.29	$0.31	$0.33	$2.28
3	$0.23	$0.24	$0.25	$0.28	$0.35	$0.39	$0.46	$3.09
4	$0.23	$0.25	$0.26	$0.30	$0.41	$0.47	$0.53	$3.72
5	$0.23	$0.25	$0.27	$0.31	$0.47	$0.54	$0.61	$4.33

Priority Mail will see an average increase of 2.8%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $8.42 in 2020 compared to $8.25 currently.

For 1 and 2 lb. packages, the Priority Mail rate increases are modest with a maximum increase of $0.17 for 1 lb. Zone 8, costing $8.42 (increase of 2.0%) and an increase of $0.33 for 2 lb. Zone 8 to $11.19 (increase of 2.9%). For packages weighing 4 lbs. or more, the rate increase are much more significant with increases of at least $0.53 per package.

Priority Mail Flat Rate - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Mailpiece	2020	2019	Increase
Flat Rate Envelope	$7.15	$6.95	$0.20
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	$7.45	$7.25	$0.20
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	$7.75	$7.55	$0.20
Small Flat Rate Box	$7.65	$7.50	$0.15
Medium Flat Rate Box	$13.20	$12.80	$0.40
Large Flat Rate Box	$18.30	$17.60	$0.70
APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box	$16.80	$16.10	$0.70

Postage rates for Priority Mail Flat Rate products will increase in 2020. The popular Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope will cost $7.75 in 2020 compared to $7.55 currently, a $0.20 increase. Rates for the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box will increase 40 cents, to $13.20 from $12.80 currently. Rates for the Large Flat Rate Box will increase 70 cents, to $18.30 from $17.60 currently.

Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 rates vs. 2019 rates

Box Type	Zones 1 & 2	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8	Zone 9
A	$0.03	$0.07	$0.09	$0.16	$0.42	$0.58	$0.90	$3.05
B	$0.02	$0.01	$0.02	$0.88	$0.57	$0.74	$0.86	$4.65

Rates for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes will be increasing for all shipping zones in 2020. A 5 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Regional Rate Box A will increase by $0.90 to $12.10 in 2020 compared to $11.20 currently.

Regional Rate Box A packages traveling shorter distances (up to Zone 5) are seeing a modest increase of up to 16 cents. Packages traveling to farther shipping zones are increasing much more – Zone 6 is seeing a 42 cents increase, Zone 7 is seeing a 58 cents increase and Zone 8 is seeing a 90 cents increase.

First Class Package Service - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Mailpiece Weight	Zones 1 & 2	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8	Zone 9
1 ounce	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09
2 ounces	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09
3 ounces	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09
4 ounces	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.08	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09	$0.09
5 ounces	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.04	$0.04
6 ounces	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.04	$0.04
7 ounces	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.04	$0.04
8 ounces	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.03	$0.04	$0.04
9 ounces	$0.11	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.13	$0.13	$0.13
10 ounces	$0.11	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.13	$0.13	$0.13
11 ounces	$0.11	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.13	$0.13	$0.13
12 ounces	$0.11	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.12	$0.13	$0.13	$0.13
13 ounces	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$0.17
14 ounces	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$0.17
15 ounces	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$0.17
15.999 ounces	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$0.17

Overall rates for First Class Package Service will increase by 2.2%. A 15.999 ounce package for First Class Package Service traveling to zone 8 will increase $0.17 to $5.70 in 2020 from $5.53 currently.

Packages that weigh 9 to 15.999 ounces are all seeing increases of 10 cents or more. A package weighing 15.999 ounces traveling to Zone 8 is seeing an increase of 17 cents (3.0%) to $5.70 in 2020 from $5.53 in 2019.

Parcel Select Ground - 2020 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Weight (lbs.)	Zones 1 & 2	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7	Zone 8	Zone 9
1	$0.07	$0.07	$0.07	$0.15	$0.16	$0.16	$0.17	$0.17
2	$0.22	$0.23	$0.24	$0.26	$0.29	$0.31	$0.33	$0.33
3	$0.23	$0.24	$0.25	$0.28	$0.35	$0.39	$0.46	$0.46
4	$0.23	$0.25	$0.26	$0.30	$0.41	$0.47	$0.53	$0.53
5	$0.23	$0.25	$0.27	$0.31	$0.47	$0.54	$0.61	$0.61
6	$0.24	$0.25	$0.28	$0.41	$0.54	$0.62	$0.71	$0.71
7	$0.24	$0.28	$0.28	$0.46	$0.60	$0.70	$0.80	$0.80
8	$0.25	$0.30	$0.33	$0.51	$0.65	$0.78	$0.90	$0.90
9	$0.27	$0.31	$0.35	$0.54	$0.71	$0.84	$1.00	$1.00
10	$0.38	$0.43	$0.47	$0.79	$1.03	$1.24	$1.46	$1.46

Overall rates for Parcel Select Ground will increase by 2.5% in 2020. A 2 lb. package going to Zone 8 will increase $0.33 to $10.89 in 2020 from $10.56 currently.

NEW: Parcel Select Ground rates are now cheaper than Priority Mail for all weights and shipping zones. For a 2 lb. package traveling to Zone 8, Parcel Select is cheaper by 30 cents ($10.89) compared to Priority Mail ($11.19).

Media Mail - 2020 Rates

INCREASE PER PACKAGE - 2020 Rates vs. 2019 Rates

Weight (lbs.)	2020	2019	Increase
1	$2.80	$2.75	$0.05
2	$3.33	$3.27	$0.06
3	$3.86	$3.79	$0.07
4	$4.39	$4.31	$0.08
5	$4.92	$4.83	$0.09
6	$5.45	$5.35	$0.10
7	$5.98	$5.87	$0.11
8	$6.52	$6.39	$0.13
9	$7.06	$6.91	$0.15
10	$7.60	$7.43	$0.17

Media Mail rates will increase by 1.9% in 2020. A 1 lb. package traveling to Zone 8 will increase 5 cents, to $2.80 in 2020 compared to $2.75 currently.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Update to the New USPS Rates on January 26, 2020
Once the rates are approved by the PRC, Stamps.com will automatically update all USPS rates inside the software and web-based version (Stamps.com Online) on Sunday, January 26, 2020. If you are a Stamps.com customer, no additional actions are needed and you will AUTOMATICALLY see the 2020 USPS rates in the platform.

The USPS has announced the 2019 Holiday shipping deadlines to assure package delivery by December 24th. Be sure to mail by these deadlines so your packages arrive on time.

Domestic Holiday Mail-By Deadlines

Domestic Mail Services	Mail-By Date
First-Class Mail	Dec 20
Priority Mail	Dec 21
Priority Mail Express	Dec 23

Alaska and Hawaii Holiday Mail-By Deadlines

Mail Addressed To	First-Class Mail	Priority Mail	Priority Mail Express
Alaska	Dec 18	Dec 19	Dec 21
Hawaii	Dec 19	Dec 19	Dec 21

Military Address (APO/FPO/DPO) Holiday Mail-By Deadlines

Military Mail Addressed To/From	First-Class Mail	Priority Mail	Priority Mail Express
AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 18
AE ZIP 093	Dec 9	Dec 9	N/A
AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 18
AA ZIP 340	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 18
AP Zips 962-966	Dec 11	Dec 11	Dec 18

International Holiday Mail-By Deadlines

Addressed To	First-Class International	Priority Mail International	Priority Mail Express International
Africa	Nov 30	Nov 30	Dec 7
Asia/Pacific Rim	Dec 7	Dec 7	Dec 14
Australia/New Zealand	Dec 7	Dec 7	Dec 14
Canada	Dec 7	Dec 7	Dec 16
Caribbean	Dec 7	Dec 7	Dec 14
Central & South America	Nov 30	Nov 30	Dec 7
Mexico	Dec 7	Dec 7	Dec 14
Europe	Dec 7	Dec 9	Dec 14
Middle East	Dec 7	Dec 9	Dec 14

 

Beginning June 23^rd, 2019 the USPS will enact rate changes that will affect Dimensional Weight Pricing for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select Ground. To ensure a smooth transition for your business be sure to review the upcoming changes listed below.

 

What Is Dimensional Weight?

Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies on a delivery truck in relation to its actual weight. Space is important for shipping carriers since they want to keep costs low by filling their delivery trucks with as many packages as possible.

 

Dimensional Weight can be calculated using the formula:

DIM Weight = (length x width x height)/DIM Divisor

 

Change #1: DIM Divisor Will Decrease

The DIM divisor will decrease from 194 to 166; this means packages greater than one cubic foot will have a higher billable weight. To illustrate this point, let’s look at a sample package with the dimensions 16” x 14” x 12” going to Zone 4 via Priority Mail:

 

Old DIM Divisor

Using the Dimensional Weight formula we can determine the package’s billable weight under the old Dim Divisor.

(16” x 14” x 12”)/194

(2688 cubic inches)/194 = 13.85 lbs.

 

The USPS Priority Mail Rate for this package would be $17.57

 

New DIM Divisor

Using the same formula, but with the new divisor, we see that billable weight is now higher.

(16” x 14” x 12”)/166

(2688 cubic inches)/166 = 16.19 lbs.

 

The USPS Priority Mail Rate for this package would be $20.35 ($2.78 increase)

 

Change #2: DIM Weight Pricing will be applied to New Zones

Currently, DIM Weight Pricing is only applied to zones 5-9 within select mail classes. Beginning June 23^rd, 2019 the USPS will expand the list of zones in which DIM Weight Pricing is applied.

• Priority Mail: DIM Weight Pricing will be expanded to include zones 1-4 for packages over 1 cubic foot. Currently, DIM Weight Pricing only applies to zones 5-9 for packages over 1 cubic foot*.
• Priority Mail Express: DIM Weight Pricing will be applied to packages over 1 cubic foot for zones 1-9. Currently, DIM Weight Pricing is not applied to Priority Mail Express.
• Parcel Select Ground: DIM Weight Pricing will be applied to packages over 1 cubic foot for zones 1-9. Currently, DIM Weight Pricing is not applied to Parcel Select Ground*.

*Prior to January 27, 2019, balloon pricing was used for Priority Mail (zones 1-4) and Parcel Select Ground (zones 1-9) packages under 20 lbs. if the combined length and girth measured more than 84 inches but 108 inches or less.

 

Stamps.com Makes Dimensional Weight Pricing Easy

Stamps.com software includes everything customers need to calculate current postage rates. For mail classes with Dimensional Weight Pricing all you need to do is weigh your mail piece, enter your package’s dimensions, enter your destination and Stamps.com will automatically calculate the required postage.

On Saturday, May 11, USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) are hosting the 27^th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The USPS and NALC are asking communities across America to come together and tackle one of the nation’s biggest problems—hunger. This year the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive hopes to surpass last year’s total of 71.6 million pounds of food collected. Food donations are distributed to food banks, pantries, shelters, and those in need all across America.

 

How to Participate in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

To participate in the 27^th Stamp Out Hunger food drive, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to their local food bank or pantry, including many affiliated with Feeding America. Please note that expired products or products in glass containers will not be accepted.

 

What to Donate

Most-wanted foods include:

• Canned meats and fish (tuna, chicken)
• Canned and boxed meals (macaroni and cheese, soup, chili)
• Pasta
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Cooking oil
• Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils)
• Boxed cooking mixes
• Fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed)

Shipping Regulations
When shipping lithium batteries, businesses must comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) standards for preparing shipments that contain lithium batteries.  The standards are in place to ensure the safe transportation of shipments that include these batteries and cells.  Shippers are responsible to comply with these regulations or risk fines.

Luckily the USPS shipping regulations align with DOT and PHMSA regulations—so as long as your shipment follows USPS regulations, you are in the clear.

USPS Standards for Domestic Shipments Containing Lithium Batteries

• Each cell cannot contain more than 1 gram of lithium
• Each battery cannot contain more than 2 grams of lithium
• All packages must contain a complete return address
• For non-installed batteries, your package must have a DOT-approved lithium battery mark (UN3090)

Standards for Shipping Installed Batteries

• Installed batteries must be protected from short circuit
• Devices with batteries must have protection to prevent accidentally being powered-on
• Equipment must be cushioned

Shipping Lithium Batteries to International Destinations?

Lithium batteries can only be shipped internationally if they are installed in the equipment they operate.  Shipping carriers are not allowed to ship packages containing only lithium batteries or cells to international locations – they must be included inside a product.  No markings or documentation are allowed on these international mailpieces.  This rule applies to all international as well as APO/FPO/DPO destinations.

More info on the U.S. Postal Service’s Lithium Battery mailing standards is available on the USPS.com site.